Haiti: new prime minister announced
On 28 May Garry Conille was appointed as Haiti's new prime minister, following a month-long selection process after Ariel Henry resigned in April. Conille, UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023, had previously served as prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012. His appointment comes amid severe gang violence in Port-au-Prince, where gangs have attacked police stations, demolished prisons, and released over 4,000 inmates. Following coordinated gang attacks on 29 February, Port-au-Prince's main airport was out of action for nearly three months. Conille has a background in medicine and public health, contributing to Haiti's reconstruction efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake. As he assumes office, Haiti is still waiting for the UN-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries.
North / South Korea: balloon warfare
North Korea has launched over 260 balloons filled with rubbish into South Korea, leading authorities to warn residents to stay indoors and avoid touching the balloons and attached plastic bags, which contain ‘filthy waste and trash’. North Korea had threatened to do this in retaliation against South Korean activists' leaflet campaigns. Residents near Seoul received alerts to avoid outdoor activities and report any ‘unidentified objects’ to authorities. Photos on social media show balloons carrying items like toilet paper, soil, batteries, and possibly even faeces. South Korea's military, condemning the action as a violation of international law and a threat to public safety, have demanded that North Korea cease these actions. Historically, both Koreas have used balloons for propaganda.
Somalia: educational consquences of huge floods
Heavy rains have flooded schools in Somalia's central Hiran region, forcing over 37,000 students out of school. The flooding has damaged learning materials and classrooms, displacing many students to distant locations and complicating efforts to resume education. Parents fear the disruption will negatively affect their children's performance in upcoming national exams, and local teachers are concerned about the long-term impact on education. Parents are urging the government to establish schools on higher grounds to avoid future disruptions. Last year, the government organised special exams after similar flooding incidents. Officials say they are committed to ensuring students can participate in exams despite the current challenges.
East / Southeast Asia: huge increase in synthetic drugs
A UN report has revealed record levels of methamphetamine and synthetic drug production in East and Southeast Asia, primarily sourced from the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Historically known for opium and heroin production, the area now sees massive methamphetamine production, fuelling the illicit economy by an estimated $80 billion a year. Political instability, especially in Myanmar's lawless frontier regions, has exacerbated drug production. In 2023, a record 190 tons of methamphetamine were seized in the region, 89% of it from Southeast Asia. The report also noted record seizures of ecstasy and the increasing presence of ketamine, a powerful anaesthetic used both medically and recreationally. Drug networks have diversified, spreading production from Myanmar's Shan State to other regions in the lower Mekong River basin.
